The Russian Arctic is residence to hundreds of polar bears that vary over its 1.5 million sq. miles of frozen water, islands, and mainland coast. Searching of polar bears has been prohibited in Russia since 1957 which has helped preserve a steady inhabitants and worldwide initiatives just like the Arctic World Wildlife Fund have helped prepare volunteers to haze bears away from villages within the far north, which contributes to minimizing detrimental encounters that would result in euthanizing problematic bears.
Regardless of low human inhabitants density and preventive measures, polar bear encounters are very a lot a hazard within the Russia’s arctic area as evidenced by this footage of a bunch of snowmobilers crossing a snowy expanse within the Republic of Sakha. The lead snowmobiler didn’t appear overly involved with the polar bear with the ability to attain him as he sped previous it together with his digicam in hand however he evidently misjudged the bear’s means to intersect with the passenger sled he was pulling.
Beneath regular circumstances, a snowmobile can simply outrun a polar bear which high out at 25mph however while you consider variable terrain and sled in tow, the margins change into a lot slimmer. Fortunately the passenger eluded the polar bear’s pounce but it surely was a really close to factor.
US Fish & Wildlife Polar Bear Security Pointers:
- Put together your deterrent(s). Don’t run from or method polar bears. If the bear is unaware of you, enable it to proceed what it was doing earlier than you encountered it. Transfer to secure shelter (e.g. car or constructing) if out there, and wait till it’s secure to proceed.
- Group up. If no secure shelter is obtainable, group up with others and stand positioned to permit for secure deployment of deterrents (e.g. firearm, pistol launcher, bear pepper spray) – till the bear leaves.
- Observe bear habits. Polar bears that cease what they’re doing to show their head or sniff the air in your path have seemingly change into conscious of your presence. These animals could exhibit varied behaviors:
- Curious polar bears usually transfer slowly, stopping often to smell the air, shifting their heads round to catch a scent, or holding their heads excessive with ears ahead. They might additionally rise up.
- A threatened or agitated polar bear could huff, snap its jaws collectively, stare at you (or the item of menace) and decrease its head to beneath shoulder degree, urgent its ears again and swaying back and forth.
- A predatory bear could sneak up on an object it considers prey. It might additionally method in a straight line at fixed pace with out exhibiting curious or threatened habits.
- If a polar bear(s) approaches you or your camp: Defend your group/camp. Any bear that approaches inside vary of your deterrents needs to be deterred. Stand your floor; don’t run. Defend your group or camp, growing the depth of your deterrence efforts as crucial. Bear in mind that deadly take of polar bears is permissible if such taking is imminently crucial in protection of human life. Protection of life kills should be reported to the Service at 907-786-3311 inside 48 hours.
- If bear makes bodily contact, combat again. If deterrence/deadly efforts have failed and a polar bear assaults (makes bodily contact), don’t “play lifeless”. Combat again utilizing any deterrents out there, aiming fists or objects on the bear’s nostril and face.
